Adjustable holder for nursing bottles and the like



March 13, 1956 BLACKMORE 2,738,152

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR NURSING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L36 f 24- lB 23 1 fi Z4 INVENTOR.

March 13, 1956 BLACKMQRE 2,738,152

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR NURSING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1EE INVENTOR. ZZZ/warm? LZEZdc/Zmare GE QQ M United States Patent Of ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR NURSING BO'ITLES AND THE LIKE This invention relates broadly to a receptacle holding device, and more specifically toa device for holding a nursing bottle while a baby is being fed therefrom.

While the prior art contains several forms of devices intended for holding nursing bottles during baby'feeding, they all have apparently fallen short of expectations for one reason or another, and insofar as it has been able to ascertain, there is now no bottle suspending device available upon the market for the stated purpose. It was a recognition of these shortcomings of the prior art, and the need of such a device to save time for the busy parent, which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

It therefore has been the object of this invention to provide a new and improved construction, so simple and inexpensive, so susceptible of expeditious manufacture, so convenient and easy to use, and so reliable and durable 2,738,152 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 other baby bed, carriage, or the like to which the invention is attachable.

A substantially rigid, relatively long and narrow member 10 is provided to extend transversely above a crib mattress ll and an infant thereon. Two clamps 12 are disposed at the ends of the member 10 respectively, for engagement with the usual upstanding crib sides 13, said clamps 12 having elongated shanks 14 extending longitudinally of the end portions of said member 10 and slidably connected therewith, to permit adjustment of the two clamps into the required spaced relation, according to the width of the crib. An adjustable arm 15 is connected with the central portion of the member 10 and extends downwardly therefrom, and the lower end of this arm carries holding means 16 for a nursing bottle 17, whereby the latter may be held in a convenient feeding position.

In the present form of the invention, the member 10 is in substantially the form of a flat tube which may well be formed from a single strip of metal bent, for example, as shown in Figure 5. When this flat tubular formation is employed for the member 10, the shanks 14 have the equivalent of a flat form and they are frictionally received slidably and non-rotatably in the end portions of said member 10, as shown more particularly in Figure 2.

Both clamps 12 are shown as formed primarily from wire; both of these clamps are identical; and a description of one will, therefore, suffice for both. Two bent-wire that it would well fulfill all requirements from stand- 1 points ofmanufacture, sale, and use and would therefore stand a good, chance of success rather than falling into oblivion with its predecessors; and the actual construction and meet the device have fully proven its potentialities toward the desired goal.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and'related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a view primarily in elevation but partly in section, on line 1-1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the invention in use.

Figure-2 is a top plan view partly in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2. i

Figure 5 is a disassembled perspective ,view showing one of the crib side clamps and a portion of the transverse member with which the shank of this clamp is slidably connected. v

Figure 6 is a disassembled perspective view of the bottle holding means, and a portion of the arm which supports it. e

The drawings above,briefly described, disclose a preferred form of construction, and while that construction will be rather specifically described, it is to be understood that numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed. Also, attention is invited to the fact that directional and positional terms used herein, such as horizontal, vertical, and downward- 1y, are employed to facilitate description and are, to a large extent, relative rather than limiting. Furthermore, the word crib is to be-interpreted as comprehending not only a bed commonly known as a crib, but also any clamp members 18 and 18 are provided to coact in straddling a crib side 13 and gripping the same, and the member 18 includes the shank 14 above referred to. This shank is composed of two spaced parallel horizontal wire portions 19 and a U-shaped bight 20 integrally connecting the inner ends of said parallel portions 19. The wire at the outer ends of these parallel portions 19 is bent laterally outward in opposite directions to form two elongated supports 21 to rest longitudinally upon the upper edge of the crib side 13, said supports 21 being disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane with the shank 14. The wire at the outer ends of the supports 21 is bent laterally in the same direction and extends away from the shank 14 to provide said supports 21 with extensions 22 to rest transversely upon the upper edge of crib side 13, said extensions 22 being disposed in the aforesaid horizontal plane. The wire at the outer ends of the extensions 22 is bent to form two downwardly projecting jaw members 23 for disposition at the outer side of the crib side 13. At the lower ends of the jaw members 23 the wire terminals are bent horizontally inward at 24 and joined to each other at 25 to form an additional and horizontal jaw member for disposition at the aforesaid outer side of the crib side 13. These jaw members coact in forming the outer jaw of the clamp, and it will be seen that this jaw is provided with the shank 14 for adjustable connection with the transverse member 10.

The clamp member 18 comprises thewire portions 19, 20 21 23 and 24*, corresponding so closely to above described elements of the clamp member 18 that no further structural description is required. It may be explained, however, that clamp member 18 differs from clamp member 18 in that it has nothing corresponding to portions 22, the shank 14 formed by the elements 19 and 20* is relatively short, and that the elements 21 23 and 24 jointly form the inner jaw of the clamp 12, fordisposition at the inner side of the crib side 13.

I The two shanks 14 and 14 are adjustably connected to permit movement of the outer and inner jaws of the clamp 12 into and out of clamping engagement with the crib side 13. In the present showing (see Figure 4), the shank 14 contacts with the lower side of the shank 14,

the two shanks 14 and 14 are upwardly straddled by a was, is:

parallel wire portions 19 and 19 of said shanks, and a wing nut 28 is threaded upon the upper end of said bolt. A washer 28 is preferably interposed between the nut .28 and the :shank 14.

The transverse member preferably carries ,a :short rigid arm 29 soldered or otherwise secured to the central portion .of said member 10; and the free end of said rigid arm 29 has an eye 30 to which the upper end of the adjustable arm 15, above introduced, is secured by means of a bolt 31 and wing nut 32 to permit vertical swingingadjustment of said arm 15. In the present disclosure, this .arm :includes an upper section 33 and a lower section 34 connected by means of a bolt 35 and nut 36. The lower end of the section :34 is con nected tothe bottle holder 16 by means of an adjusting bolt .37 :and wing nut 38 to permit vertical swinging adjustment of said bottle holder. Preferably, the lower arm section 34 is itself of sectional form with its sections 39 and 40 connected by a frictional ball joint 41 or in any other suitable manner to allow positioning of the bottle 17 transversely instead of longitudinally of the crib, if the baby is to be fed while lying on one side instead of uponhisback. The various arm sections may well be formed from wire and may have their end portions bent to form eyes 42 through which the bolts 31, .35, and 37 aresuitab'ly held against turning, for example, by means of soldering or welding, to facilitate loosening and tightening of their wing nuts.

The bottle holder 16 is preferably formed primarily from wire. It includes a ring 43 into which to insert the nipple end of the bottle, and a rod 44 joined at one of its ends to the upper portion of said ring and intended to lie longitudinally upon the bottle 17, the intermediate portion of said rod being provided with an eye 45 to receiye the bolt 37. Upon this eye, teeth 46 have been indicated in Figure 6, and all of the other bolt receiving eyes are preferably formed with similar teeth to aid materially in .holding the parts in adjusted position. A cross arm 47 is centrally secured to the rod 44 between the eye 45 and the free end of said rod, the ends of said cross .arm having eyes 48 into which the ends of a coiled tension spring 49 are hooked. This spring embraces the bottle .17 under tension and eifectively holds said bottle against accidental movement from the ring 43, and v as said spring will readily yield when inserting and removing said bottle, it may remain permanently attached .to the eyes 48.

From the foregoing and the accompanying drawings, it will .be seen that a ,novel and advantageous, as, well asrelatively simpleandinexpensive devicehas been provided :for conveniently attaining the desired end, .and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations, including thecoyering of the gripping memberswith felt or rubber, and to the fact that crib is .to be soconstruedasto not limit use of the invention on an article of furniture ,commonly called .a crib, as it is obviously useable with equal advantage on a bassinet or other form of baby bed, or on a'baby carriage.

The device has been constructed from plated metal, and while this .is ,now considered preferable, it will be obvious that it may well be formed from some suitable modern plastic, .or combination of plastic with other material.

Other modes of applying theprinciple of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made asregards the article and 'combinationsherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim asmy invention:

.1. A nursing bottle holder comprising a relativelytlong andnarrowsubstantially rigidmember adapted toextend transversely aboveithe mattress .of a crib, aclamp atzeach end of said relatively long and narrow member, each and a bottle holding means adjustably carried by said arm.

2. A nursing bottle holder comprising a relatively long and narrow substantially rigid member adapted to extend transversely above the mattress of a crib, a clamp at each end of said relatively long and narrow member. each of said clamps being engageable with the usual upstanding sides of the crib and having shanks extending longitudinally of the end portions of said relatively long and narrow member, respectively, said shanks and said relatively long and narrow member being slidably connected with each other to permit relative adjustments so as to space said clamps the required distance apart, a short rigid arm fixedly secured to and projecting laterally from the central portion of said relatively long and narrow member, a movable arm connected with said rigid arm and projecting generally downwardly therefrom, and bottle holding means carried by said movable arm, said bottle holding means having a rigid ring into which to insert the-nipple end of the bottle, a rodsecured at one of its ends to said ring and disposed at aright angle to the plane of said ring to lie longitudinally against the bottle, a cross arm secured between its ends to said rod and spaced from said ring, and an elastic element connected at its ends with the ends of said cross arm to yieldably embrace the bottle.

3. YA nursing bottle holder comprising a relatively long and narrow member adapted to extend transversely above themattress of a crib, said member being in substantially the form of a flat tube, a clamp at each end of said tube member, each said clamp having inner and outer members for engagement with the usual upstanding sides .Of:the crib, each of said clamps having a pair of shanks with one shank of each pair being elongated and said elongated shanks adjustable relative to each other while engaged in said tube and with at least one of said shanks both slidably and non-rotatably received in one end of theaforesaid relatively long and narrow tubular memberwhichis freely positionable lengthwise of said shanks, means for releasably anchoring the pair of shanks of each-clamp in .fixed position, whereby such relative adjustments of said long and narrow member and said clampshanks1may .be made .to freely space said clamps, substantially without inward tension, the required distance apart, and a supporting arm rigidly anchoring to and projecting generally downwardly from said relatively long and narrow member, said arm having means for adjustably holding'a bottle in varioussupported positions.

4. A nursing bottle holder comprising a relativelylong and narrow member adapted to extend transvcrselyabove themattress of a crib, said member being in substantially the form of a fiat tube, a clamp at each end of said tubemember, each said clamp having inner and outer members :forengagement with the usual upstanding sides of the crib, each of said clamps having a pairof shanks with one shank of each pair beingelongated and said elongated shanks adjustable relative .to each other with at least one of said shanks both slidably and non-.rotatably received'in one end of the aforesaid relativelylongand narrow tubular member which isfreely positionable lengthwise of said shanks, whereby such relative adjustments of said long and narrow member and said :clamp shanks may be made to freely space said clamps, substantially without inward tension, the required distance apart, and an arm projecting generally downwardly from said relatively long and narrow member, said arm having means for holding a bottle in various adjusted positions, each of said shanks comprising spaced parallel side rods and a bight connecting the inner ends of said rods, one of the shanks of each clamp being substantially longer than the other whereby such longer shank may frictionally contact with interior surfaces of said relatively long and narrow member to yieldably hold said member and shanks in required relatively adjusted positions with substantial freedom from pulling tension into said tube.

5. In a bent-wire clamp member, two spaced parallel wire portions and a bight connecting one end of one of said parallel wire portions with the corresponding end of the other parallel wire portion, whereby said bight and parallel wire portions coact in forming a shank, the wire at the ends of said two parallel wire portions remote from said bight extending laterally outward in opposite directions substantially in the plane of said shank to form two elongated supports to rest longitudinally upon a member to be clamped, the wire at the outer ends of said elongated supports extending laterally in the same general direction and longitudinally away from said shank and in the aforesaid plane to provide said elongated supports with two extensions to rest transversely upon the member to be clamped, the Wire at the outer ends of said extensions extending downwardly to provide jaw portions for disposition at one side of the member to be clamped, the lower ends of said downwardly extending members being joined and stiffened by an additional wire portion extending between them, a second bentwire clamp member having a shank with parallel wire portions joined at one end with a bight, the wire at the ends of said last mentioned parallel wire portions remote from said bight extending longitudinally outward in opposite directions substantially in the plane of said shank, which is shorter than said first named shank, the wire at the outer ends of said longitudinal extensions extending downward with the lower ends of same joined and stiifened by an additional wire portion extending between them, the shanks of the two bent-wire clamp members being disposed longitudinally of each other to locate the jaw portions of said two clamp members side by side in cooperative gripping relation for movement to and from each other, and means adjustably connecting said two shanks, said last named means including a gripping memher with threaded fastener rigidly anchored to same for gripping one of said shanks, said threaded fastener extending between the parallel wire portions of both of said shanks and being provided with a threaded nut member tightenable thereon for releasably anchoring the shanks of said bent-wire clamp members together with the jaw members in various fixed positions.

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